Finishing Poplar

[sgtdave]

I have been making children's rockers using poplar for sometime. Most people want them unfinished or painted, usually forrest green or red. recently I had a request to stain one and poly it. I was timid at first but agreed to do it for my customer.

I used Minwax Red Mahogany to get the dark color she wanted for her granddaughter's rocker. Using great care, I gave it a try and... Viola!! it turned out beautiful. I only sanded to 150 grit and was careful to use only light poplar (no green). I thought about using a conditioner but opted not to do it. After staining I gave it 3 coats of satin poly and it really did well. The key was to choose only light poplar. Also using a dark stain was better.

I tried samples with golden oak and the color was pretty ugly.

Just thought I would pass this happy ending on t oanyone who might be interested.

:banana:

 

[stave]

Re: Finishing Polar

Poplar takes red based stains better than any other color. Browns look dirty as do most yellows. It will also absorb stain like a sponge, learned that the hard way. First carving I ever threw away was poplar that I put walnut stain on...it turned so dark you could not see anything.

Glad your experience was a good one and I bet the mahogany stain looked great!

Stave

 

[ScottM]

Re: Finishing Polar

Thanks Dave. It does take cherry well also.

 

[sgtdave]

Finally corrected typo!!!!

Scott - I think I tried cherry on something poplar several years back and used a gel stain. If I remember correctly it was a tallish plant stand and it looked OK.

Since Minwax American Cherry is similar to the red Mahogany, I'll bet that would look great too!

 

[Joe Scharle]

Finally corrected typo!!!!





Scott - I think I tried cherry on something poplar several years back and used a gel stain. If I remember correctly it was a tallish plant stand and it looked OK.

Since Minwax American Cherry is similar to the red Mahogany, I'll bet that would look great too!

Dave, you need to EDIT / ADVANCED to change the Title, if that's what you were trying to do.

 

[ehpoole]

Re: Finishing Polar

Actually, I have had good luck with the Red Mahogany stain on mixed Poplar heart- and sapwood (white & green). Once stained you would be hard pressed to determine which was the green Poplar and which was white even when the two are side-by-side. The cabinet I've been (slowly) working on for the past year was sanded to 220-grit prior to staining and is a mix of Poplar and cheap BORG Birch plywood -- all of which blended together very nicely with the Red Mahogany stain.

 

[sgtdave]

Thanks for that info. I have a two drawer shaker desk made from poplar (really nice poplar) with 5/4 desk top. It has some green heart wood but not bad. I originally was going to paint it but I think since reading your post I am going to go ahead with the red mahogany. After doing the rocker, I have more confidence; even more since you told me of your success.

I need to clear some space to finish it so it will be after I complete a few projects. When done, I will post a picture. I will post a before picture too.

 

[Gotcha6]

Talk, talk, talk..... Where's the pics???? :icon_thum